Within MAWO's events and actions planned
for September, it became necessary to discuss
a humanitarian crisis that is the direct result
of over 14 years of the new era of war and
occupation. This crisis, of course, is the refugee
crisis that is seeing huge numbers of refugees
from the Middle East and Africa desperately
seeking safety and security on European
shores.
On Tuesday September 8th, MAWO
organized a public forum titled “Hands Off
Iraq! Hands Off Syria! War, Occupation and
the ISIS/ISIL Crisis”. Following the videos,
the first speaker was Mamdoh Ashir, an Iraqi-
Canadian and Muslim community activist.
He spoke to give more insight into how
the U.S. occupation of Iraq fueled sectarian
divisions which helped create ISIS/ISIL, and
furthermore how ISIS/ISIL benefits from
U.S. weapons and covert support. The next
speaker, Thomas Davies, an editorial board
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO)
Continues Organizing Against Imperialist War and Occupation!
member of the Fire This Time Newspaper,
gave further perspective on the effects of war
on Iraq and Syria. He also discussed how the
current refugee crisis in Europe is the clearest
indication of how devastating these wars have
been to make Iraq and Syria totally unlivable,
as both of these countries have some of the
highest numbers of refugees.
On Saturday September 12th, MAWO
organized a monthly antiwar rally and
petition campaign, in front of the Vancouver
Art Gallery in Downtown Vancouver. This
month, alongside demands of “Hands Off
Syria! Hands Off Iraq! No War on Yemen!”
protesters also demanded “Open the Borders:
Let Refugees of War and Occupation in!”
Organizers approached passer-bys to sign on
to a petition against Canada’s participation
in military intervention and sanctions on
Syria, and the information table was busy
with people stopping to talk to organizers,
sign petitions and pick up antiwar literature.
Following an afternoon of petitioning, the
action culminated with a rally in which
Azza Rojbi, MAWO executive committee
member, and Thomas Davies spoke and
encouraged people who stopped to listen to
look beyond the media reports of refugees
arriving in Europe, and to question why so
many people are risking their lives and leaving
their homelands. The speakers emphasized
how governments in Europe, Canada and the
US must take responsibility for the causing
the refugee crisis through their wars and
occupations by opening the borders to refugees
and stopping their wars and occupations.
From forums and discussions to
demonstrations and petition drives,
Mobilization Against War and Occupation
will continue to organize against the new
era of war and occupation. The refugee crisis
is making it clear that war and occupation
cannot simply be ignored because it it seems
far away. All peace-loving people must
demand that imperialist governments stop
their wars and occupations, and demand self-
determination for all oppressed nations.
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